nessie000  +  687381 Mon, 16 Mar 09 05:05 PM Hi, There's a sentence I want to say, but I don't know how to say it, so please consider this situation: Today there are many students who go to school late, and when Bill enters the classroom (also late), the teacher wants to know if he is the first, or the second, or the third, etc to be late, so she asks the monitor. My question is: how can the teacher ask the monitor? Many thanks, Nessie. nessie000 Joined on Thu, Dec 4 2008 Full Member 200 Sentences, Students, Classes

	Avangi  +  687391 Mon, 16 Mar 09 05:44 PM If the question is posed at the time Bill enters the class, she may ask the monitor, "How many [students are/have been] late thus/so far?"  If Jack is the fifth, Bill is the fourth, Jane is the third, Eddie is the second, etc., I can't offer much help.  Tell 'em to take a number when they come in. I'd have to ask, "Was Jane the second or the third or the fourth student to to enter the class late?" Or perhaps better, since it wouldn't take either the teacher or the monitor any longer, she could guess:  "Was Bill the second to come in late?"  (reply)  "No, he was the fourth." Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,211 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Writing, Students

	CalifJim  +  687392 Mon, 16 Mar 09 05:45 PM There is no simple way to ask this is English because we don't have the word "whichth". When Bill enters the classroom, the monitor can ask, "How many late students does that make now?" or "How many students are late now?"  The answer will be "two", "three", or whatever, not "second", "third", and so on, but at least the same basic information is conveyed. To prompt the response "second" or "third", you might ask, "Among the late students, which one is Bill in terms of order?  Is he the first?  Second?  Third?  Or which?", but this is not very usual in English. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,465 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Students, Classes, Languages